What’s happening now?

We’ve been working with King County Metro to procure a bus fleet for the project. Metro and SDOT carefully reviewed fleet options including electric trolley bus, battery electric bus, and diesel hybrid bus. This review examined the different vehicle types’ ability to meet project needs and the team’s ability to procure the bus type without impacting the project timeline. Based on this review, we determined a diesel-hybrid coach would best meet the project requirements.

RapidRide G will operate with diesel-hybrid buses in order to provide service in 2022. This change to diesel-hybrid buses removes the need to expand the overhead contact system on the corridor. We will keep the existing overhead contact system to support the current trolley buses. More details will be available once we complete final design. We’re looking forward to sharing the updated design and talking about RapidRide G Line (Madison BRT) with the community in 2019!

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Note: The RapidRide G (Madison St BRT) project is contingent on FTA Small Starts grant funding, as well as funding opportunities from other partner agencies.

Madison Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will provide fast, frequent, reliable, and safe public transportation between 1st Ave in downtown Seattle and Martin Luther King Jr Way. The route will serve densely developed neighborhoods in downtown Seattle, First Hill, Capitol Hill, the Central Area, and Madison Valley. It will connect to dozens of bus routes, the First Hill Streetcar, and ferry service at the Colman Dock Ferry Terminal.

Madison Street BRT is a partnership between the City of Seattle and King County Metro. King County Metro will operate service on Madison Street as RapidRide G Line.

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The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) develops, maintains, and operates a transportation system that promotes the mobility of people and goods, and enhances the quality of life, environment, and economy of Seattle. In June 2002, SDOT was created by combining transportation planning from the former Strategic Planning Office with the former Seattle Transportation Department to bring a more comprehensive approach to transportation service delivery. A major element of SDOT's creation was the establishment of the Policy, Planning, and Major Projects division, which is charged with transportation system planning and providing increased control and influence over major projects under construction in Seattle.